Hobbyhorse



Patented Apr. 20, 1948 U Ni-I'TYE'D" GfFiFIiC-E -.HQBBYI'IOHSE Thomas Gibbons, Ghicago, 111., Aijpplicationfictobcr 9, 194598erialNoifizlizfi My invention relates to toys i for l amusement purposes, generally, characterized as hobby horses primarily because 'theyh-ave a horse head in the structurethereo'f, even though ithelhead structure simulating anyother animal may be utilized with the generar elemental -s'tructur embracing-my invention. 1

An important object of my invention is to provide: a I figure head of arr-animal @which is :providedwwitha seat portion mounted on a resilient element, ?in turn mounted on'a base so as to permit achild -tobe seated: on the'seatportion and motivate himselfsor herself in an arcuate movement relative to :the point. of anchorage of the said resilient element-with respect to the said baseelement. I

.A'nothennbject ofumyiinvention is toaprovide in a :toy of the aforementioned character adjustable slide meansawhich.will vary;the point from .which'the :resiiient element is caused to flex or to afford articulate or radial movement by either lengthening the fiexure portion ofthe resilient element or shortening the same, and corelatively resulting in the increased or decreased resiliency which is-directly proportional to the length of the exposed surface of the resillent 'element. I

A -further objector-my invention is to; r0.vide a toy of-the aforementioned-i'charactergwhich will furnish amusement; which is-practical in its construction, simple in its organization of elemental units to the extent that it will be rendered economical to manufacture in quantity production.

Other features and objects of my invention may be inferred from the accompanying drawings, having further reference to the elucidation thereof in the ensuing description, wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts; and, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross-sew tional view showing the adjustable features as applied to the tensioning means, an important feature of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a transversal cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the Various views, my invention is, generally, designated 5, and it consists of the configuration of the head of an animal, generally, designated 1, provided with a handle portion 6 transversally secured at a convenient poris also secured to the head I.

5-Glaims. (015272-152) 911 this seat :the i child .is: usually resting and in: straddled relationship: thereto. The seat 8 is connected bya bolt fi and nut O to the resilient element that a-bentlpor-tion I12 thereof. The resilient element 'i-L, which-mama; spring of suitable strength andrcross-sectionghas itsother terminus a P3 bent in substantially 1 parallel relationship tothe bent. portion [2, and. outwardly with -respect: thereto, the saidwend .13 being moored to a." base, generally, .-designated 525, and having a "rear :foote elementiz i 'tov. insure stability-thereof.

The 81811161117116 secured izthereto :a' bracket EArhaVin-g; an. upright:portionezfissuitabiy thread- -ed:.to;-receive:theithreaded portion:of the adjusting; screw'iid, theiheadzizafof whichiismanipulated CIOCkWiSGiGI'.JCOllfitEIklIDkWiSB rdepending on whether it isgdesiredetolmovezthei'block I8 to the :left of :Fig. 1; "iOlfitOfifiIBii'IiQlflt, .sas 'shown- :by the :dottedllirres. The :block 3 k8: is :provided with a. dovetailedslideaportionz121 which-:operates slidably; instheadovetaileslot :15 5-inthei'base, :"the send oftthesscrewiflflz'being filletedrzasratr 21min order tomeiceive theicylindricaltbody'z'portionwfl ofsthe nail Lac-and perm-itzrotatiomof thescrew 20-with respect to i-thev .blockz'l8. :av rotation ,of .thejheadcfiiiiwillz be translated tozimpart 1a :Lforwardznraaz'retarding zmovement :to {the block. 1&8. Thezspringrelement lzlzzhasiitsznortionwlcasecured fimnly: to. :the; :basenby. :virtue: not: ,rnu-ts 5M :and

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A child seated on the reclining portion 8 may use the toes of the feet pressed against the ground to urge himself upwardly, and the spring II will thus be subjected to a flexure action which will result in a series of movements of the reclining portion 8, thus afiording an arcuate movement about the mooring portion [3 of the spring I I and aifording amusement to a child seated astraddle on the reclining portion 8. The base 26 of the device may rest or be permanently secured to any support, such as the ground surface, or may be mobile and moved about to different locations, or the foot portion 21 may be firmly fastened and secured to a supporting surface. The operation of my invention is readily obvious and self evident and is believed to require no further elucidation.

Although I have herein described rather succinctly the nature of the construction of my invention and the operation thereof, and inasmuch as it is susceptible of modifications and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to all modifications and improvements coming within the scope and spirit of my invention, also such improvements as are impliedly embraced in the accompanying drawings, as'well as those that fall within the purview of the foregoing description.

Having thus described and revealed my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A hobby horse comprising, a seat, a base, resilient means interconnecting the said seat to the said base, and resiliency adjusting means slidably secured to the said base adjacent the mooring point of the said resilient means to the said base for varying the flexure of the said resilient means, the said resiliency adjusting means including an angular support secured to the said base having a threaded portion in its upright portion, an adjusting screw threadably connected to the said threaded portion, the said screw being provided with a filleted portion at its end, a dovetailed slide element slidably secured to said base and provided with an inclined plane surface in intimate contact with the lower surface of the said resilient means, and a pin element secured to the said slide element and engaging the said filleted portion.

2. In a hobby horse toy, resiliency adjusting means comprising, an angular support secured to the said base having a threaded portion in its upright portion, an adjusting screw threadably connected to the said threaded portion, the said screw being provided with a filleted portion at its end, a dovetailed slide element slidably secured to said base and provided with an inclined plane surface in intimate contact with the lower surface of the said resilient means, and a pin element secured to the said slide element and engaging the said filleted portion.

3. A hobby horse comprising, a seat, a base, resilient means interconnecting the said seat to the said base, and resiliency adjusting means slidably secured to the said base adjacent the mooring point of the said resilient means to the said base for varying the flexure of the said resilient means, the said resiliency adjusting means including, a support secured to the said base, a dovetailed wedge element slidably secured to the said base and having its inclined plane surface in intimate contact with the lower surface of the said resilient means, an adjusting screw threadably engaging the said support and revolubly engaging the said wedge element, and a pin element secured to the said wedge element engaging removably the tip of the said adjusting screw permitting rotation and preventing withdrawal thereof.

4. In a hobby horse toy of the character described, resiliency adjusting means comprising, a support secured to the said base, a dovetailed wedge element slidably secured to the said base and having its inclined plane surface in intimate contact with the lower surface of the said resilient means, an adjusting screw threadably engaging the said support and revolubly engaging the said wedge element, and a pin element secured to the said wedge element engaging removably the tip of the said adjusting screw permitting rotation and preventing removal thereof.

5. A hobby horse comprising, a seat, a base, resilient means interconnecting the said seat to the said base, and resiliency adjusting means slidably secured to the. said base adjacent the mooring point of the said resilient means to the said base for varying the fiexure of the said resilient means, the said resiliency adjusting means including, an angular support secured to the said base having a threaded portion in its upright portion, an adjusting screw threadably connected to the said threaded portion, the said screw being provided with a filleted portion at its end, a dovetailed slide element slidably secured to the said base and provided with an inclined plane surface in intimate contact with the lower surface of the said resilient means, and a pin element secured to the said slide element and engaging the said filleted portion, the said resilient means comprising, a flat spring element having a body portion and two mounting end portions bent angularly transversally and outwardly with respect thereto, the said end portions being in parallel relationship.

, THOMAS GIBBONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,216,755 Whitten Feb. 20, 1917 1,890,699 Shoemaker Dec. 13, 1932 2,129,176 Holman Sept. 6, 1938 

